An Aberdeen teacher wins this year’s Special Education Staff of the Year Award.
Department of Education leaders recognized Eric Pedersen — a special education teacher from Aberdeen Central High School — at this year’s Special Education Conference.
Every year the agency invites families who receive special education services to nominate a staff member who has made educational contributions to their child.
Linda Turner is the Education Department’s Director for Special Education and Early Learning. She presented one of those family nominations.
“As a grandparent of a child with special needs and behavioral and mental health issues, I saw no future outside of the legal system. Eric does not see the behaviors in my grandson. He sees the child behind those behaviors and their potential," said Turner while quoting a grandparent who wrote the nomination.
"My child's success in high school has been more than I could've ever dreamed of and it is due to Eric. Not only does he go above-and-beyond for students, he does it also for me. He asks me how I’m doing. He listens to my suggestions, he follows up, and he explains when changes are coming and why. Eric has succeeded far above anything I have ever experienced prior to make me feel like a part of the team," said Turner. "This is not a job for him. It’s a calling to make a difference in the lives of kids who are struggling.”
Pedersen said it’s humbling.
“The true reward is to hear the words that have been typed up about me and know that I made a difference in somebody’s life because that’s ultimately why we do this job," said Pedersen. "I can’t imagine doing anything else. I truly can’t. I absolutely love it.”
He added well-intentioned people tell him that it takes a “special" and "patient” person to do what he does, but he sees it differently.
“I think one of the greatest things that you can do as a special education teacher is just to come in and be yourself," Pedersen said. "Be a normal person because that’s what the kids need at the end of the day—somebody’s who’s going to give them a sense of grounding and help them know that somebody cares about them.”
Pedersen was chosen among 70 nominees from across the state.
Other finalists included:
- May Amodia, a special education teacher, Sisseton School District
- Grant Dunbar, a special education teacher, Sioux Falls School District
- Donnell Houx, a speech language pathologist, Oglala Lakota County School District
- Hannah Lunden, a special education teacher, Deuel School District